I need help.... I keep trying to merge my babies (17 weeks) in with my 5 older hens. I have 3 that are sooo mean to them. Literally ripping feathers out of them. I've tried everything. Please help
Hi there, how are things going now with your integration? Did you start another thread, follow any advise that helped the situation?
I'm trying to add a single 17 week old chick - who has been in a quarantine pen but within sight of my 3 adult birds for 2 months now. The chick she originally came home with turned out to be a rooster, and the replacement pullet the breeder gave us died. So for a week this little one has been alone in a pen closer to the main flock, with a view to integrating her. She's been really lonely trying to force herself through the chicken wire to join them. Previously they had free ranged side by side with just a mesh fence separating them, and the adult birds really weren't interested.
She free ranged with them last night, some pecking from one of the adults, who is currently bottom of the pecking order, and ignored by the other 2. She hopped into the main coop with them at dusk, with no issues, so I left her in there.
She has a small ark, 1/3 wood 2/3 wire as her 'escape room' set up in their run - but didn't get there in time this morning, when our lowest ranking chicken really set on her. Pinned her to the ground, stood on top of her, pecking her face, ripping out feathers. I have read lots of threads on here regarding introducing, look but don't touch, try not to intervene while they sort the pecking order etc, but after seeing a direct hit to the eye, I scooped her up, and shut her in the ark.
I saw a totally different side to our usually gentle Partridge Rock 'Honey' - who proceeded to body slam the wooden section, climb on the roof and peck at that, then head for the wire section. Poor little Ginger was alarm calling and panting in there!
So, currently I have moved Honey into a totally separate pen, while Ginger is closed into her ark. The other 2 adult birds are also a little agitated by the scared chick shrieks and cries she was making, as well as her alarm calling, and they then tried to peck at her through the wires.
So, just unsure of timing for the next steps - should I try letting the calmer 2 adults and the chick free range together this evening? I will leave her closed in the ark within their run overnights. Any guidance on how many days before I should let her out into their pen again? How long should I keep my bullying adult hen out of the mix?
Its all been a bit upsetting, seeing a side of an adult hen we've had for 3 years who eats out of our hand turn so violent, and the little one so desperate to join the 'big girls' being battered and so terrified. Have never had an experience like this with previous integrations, but none of those have been with a single chick.
All advice welcome, thanks
Thank you for the help though!
